Community demands justice after death of 3-year-old in Marion County

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Dozens gathered in protest Saturday, as Marion County residents demanded accountability in the death of 3-year-old Paisley Brown, who died Thursday from injuries sustained during abuse at her Citra home.

Jeroen Jarrel Coombs, 32, was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse following the incident.

Marion County Sheriff’s deputies say Coombs admitted to binding the child’s hands with rope and her legs with tape, dropping her and striking her multiple times.

According to investigators, Coombs shared he ‘took it took far’. waiting approximately 40 minutes before calling 911 for help.

Paisley’s father, Robert Brown, addressed the crowd of protesters Saturday, expressing anguish over his daughter’s preventable death.

RELATED: ‘Citra house of horror’: 3-year-old dies from child abuse; Marion County deputies arrest suspect

Community organizers and residents are calling for charges beyond Coombs’ arrest, demanding that Paisley’s mother also face criminal accountability.

Carley Santana, a protest organizer, criticized the pace of Marion County’s investigative process.

“I respect our law enforcement, but I’ve seen countless situations in Marion County where arrests are prolonged for months or even years,” Santana said. “I don’t think somebody should be walking through without at least being taken in, questioned and determined by a police officer.”

The Florida Department of Children and Families has placed the four other children in the home into custody.

Detectives are investigating whether there were prior signs of abuse and what Paisley’s mother may have known about the circumstances leading to the child’s death.

Robert Brown said he has been working to rehabilitate himself after losing custody of his children following his own child abuse charge. He is now focused on seeking justice for his daughter.

With Marion County residents expressing outrage over what they describe as a wholly preventable tragedy, investigators with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office continue to examine the case as the community awaits further developments.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.